"Candidates and presidents generally oblige them, Barack Obama and Mitt Romney included. It is permissible, in the political major leagues, for candidates to talk about big national problems — but only if they promise solutions in the next sentence: Unemployment is too high, so I will create millions of jobs. It is impermissible to dwell on chronic, painful problems, or on statistics that challenge the notion that the United States leads the world — a point made memorably in a tirade by the dyspeptic anchorman played by Jeff Daniels in the HBO drama “The Newsroom.”"

by Stephanie Curtis, MPR News10/29/2012 1:42:05 AM

@KerriMPR America has problems? I thought we were perfect... #exceptionalism

Pretty sure it's a phrase that's only used by politicians to imply that their opponents don't love America enough. If Mitt Romney really believed in American Exceptionalism, he would have so much of his money in offshore accounts to avoid paying taxes.

by B Joe10/29/2012 2:14:02 PM

Every country I've visited is exceptional in some way. Americans are exceptional in their belief that their exceptionalism is exceptional.

I think there are some great things about our country. I am also concerned that if in coversation you bring up concerns or things that need to improve, you often get a response like...if you don't like it here then leave. There is little tolerance with many Americans to hear that we are not, across the board... "THE BEST."

by Laurie.in.Duluth10/29/2012 2:17:03 PM

The concept of exceptionalism breeds hubris and empire think. We all get along better when we all get along with our neighbors, big and small.

by southmpls10/29/2012 2:17:06 PM

I see American Exceptionalism as a fading glow of what once was & we still believe despite evidence to the contrary @DailyCircuit @KerriMPR

At one time 'American exceptionalism' may have referred to the good qualities of equality and opportunity but ever since my formative years during the Vietnam War I have taken it to mean "arrogance, conceit and Christian self-righteousness." Who are we to be better than all others?

by Bruce, Rochester10/29/2012 2:22:51 PM

My family immigrated to Mpls. in 1956. My father started with $34.00 and a good trade. By 1960 we had a new house in the suburb, and a start to a cabin on Crosslake. All on one income. Using an inflation calculator he would now be making over $ 50.00 per hour. People in this trade now make less than $20.00 per hour.

by Soren10/29/2012 2:23:03 PM

I'm having a hard time believing you - at MINNESOTA Pubic Radio is talking about this.

It's the EXACT same thing media people do everyday when they talk about this state.

There is nothing inherently exceptional either about this state or the U.S. Yes, we''re fortunate to have had some brilliant men design out government in the 1770's and 1780's. And we have had some true public servants (not the same as politicians" who have moved it forward. But we are NO BETTER than anyone else. Your quoted child poverty statistic is enough to dispel that notion. I'd be so grateful for a candidate for public office to tell the truth and work to solve REAL problems such as poverty and homelessness and domestic violence, etc. rather than to work to get re-elected.

When you have to tell everyone how great your are....you should realize that you are going downhill, and not doing anything to correct the problem.

by t sheppard10/29/2012 2:30:04 PM

Americans are exceptionally lucky, but also exceptionally arrogant.

by Robin10/29/2012 2:30:41 PM

Cliff May says he thinks exceptionalism is not "we're number one" but that we have a unique destiny and role.

by Stephanie Curtis, MPR News10/29/2012 2:31:25 PM

I always bristle when politicians end their speeches with "God Bless America." How about "God Bless our World!" As a person of faith in God, I have found the song by Lloyd Stone and Georgia Harkness sung to the tune of Finlandia very appropriate when we think we as a county are exceptional. The first verse "This is my song, O God of all the nations, a song of peace for lands afar and mine. This is my home, the country where my heart is; here are my hopes, my dreams, my holy shrine; but other hearts in other lands are beating with hopes and dreams as true and high as mine."

by Candace10/29/2012 2:31:34 PM

Cliff May

by Stephanie Curtis, MPR News10/29/2012 2:32:12 PM

I'm disappointed at yet another "managed decline" piece from the NYT.

America is exceptional because it remains a land of opportunity and personal responsibility and because even though we have the power to build an empire we as a people reject it. We are also the first modern democracy to enshrine those values that nearly everyone holds dear in our Billl of Rights. Even today in Europe's de facto free speech environment their laws permit far more restriction of dissenting speech than here in the US.

We also need to stop propagating the myths of health care costs of the US vs. other industrialized nations.

by JustAnotherSkippy10/29/2012 2:33:35 PM

To me, college in this country is about coffee shops, bookstores, and athletics. Often I don't see a focus on colleges' and universities' primary role and that's to provide exceptional and accessible EDUCATION. Programs keep getting cut and bookstores and private enterprise just keeps slipping their foot further in the door. And the costs just keep going up.

by Andrew10/29/2012 2:33:37 PM

Cliff May says that Great Britain passed the torch of global leadership after World War Two to American.

by Stephanie Curtis, MPR News10/29/2012 2:34:17 PM

In the US, so much of our criteria seems to be about profit. We are exceptional at making money. But things that do not directly help the rich get richer tend to get less attention.

by Bruce Bell-Myers10/29/2012 2:34:22 PM

Freedom from religious persecution? If someone was running for president and he was an athiest, would he be elected? If Obama announced tomorrow that he was converting to hinduism, would he be re-elected? No. What kind of religious freedom is that?

by Deborah10/29/2012 2:34:30 PM

@KerriMPR No nation is "hope of the world." Christians teach that Christ is. Odd that so many conserv. Christians buy into exceptionalism.

Clifford just said that we weren't founded on blood and soil... Huh? Ever heard of the Native Americans?

by Travis Anderson10/29/2012 2:35:03 PM

Do we value liberty? Aren't there multiple constitutional amendments across the country that are seeking to deny gay folks the right to marry?

by B Joe10/29/2012 2:38:31 PM

I left a very exceptional Russia twenty years ago for America believing that this is indeed a very special and exceptional country. In the last several years, however, I see it becoming less and less so. I see more and more of exactly what I ran from: bigger government, irresponsible politicians, welfare state, persecution of religion, decline of moral values. I am still very proud of this country as the one where my voice and my choice matters - this is exceptional indeed.

by Oleg Voskresensky10/29/2012 2:39:27 PM

@B Joe AGREED.

by Andrew10/29/2012 2:40:36 PM

When Cliff was able to change the definition to fit his argument, he moved the conversation away for the primary topic. So, are we speaking about the term as a political term or socio-economic term

by Mike10/29/2012 2:40:43 PM

In a discussion which should span topics of economics and social mobility, why are the only two guests a journalist and a conservative foreign policy wonk? Where's the balance MPR?

by Gordon Shumway10/29/2012 2:40:51 PM

Cliff May is delusional. He is a perfect example of why America is going swiftly downhill ueber-Hubris will be (wait - already has been - ) our demise. We must work humbly with other countries. Not bully them around.

by Michael J G10/29/2012 2:41:06 PM

@KerriMPR death of compromise? Is 'my way or the highway' politics unpatriotic & an affront to the founding principles of our country?

It is true in some ways that America, at its best, is exceptional. However, our collective sense of exceptionalism has blinded us as a culture to many of our most pressing problems, and hindered our ability to look logically and with open eyes to find solutions. We are becoming less exceptional because we are less able to recognize the exceptional ideas of others.